AFC Telford 2 Altrincham 1 - match report and pictures

The Bucks began the game nine points adrift of safety in the Conference Premier and the result was always going to the most important thing.

Thankfully goals from Sam Smith and Adam Farrell ensured it was the home side that took the points.

Manager Liam Watson made two changes from the team that drew with Basingstoke in the FA Cup first round on Saturday.

In goal Jonathan Hedge made way for Freddy Hall while midfielder Sean Cooke was also moved to the bench in favour of Josh Hancock.

Altrincham, who arrived on the back of Sunday's FA Cup humbling at Blyth Spartans, made a surprise swap up front with top scorer Damian Reeves dropped to the bench in favour of fellow ex-Telford man Kyle Perry.

The Bucks made a purposeful start bossing the early possession and getting the ball forward early and often.

Smith probably should have done better with a headed chance which flew over the bar following Sean Clancy's inviting cross.

But the hosts had Andy Parry to thank for preventing a Simon Richman opener for the Robins following a swift counter attack.

Richman raced into the box but pulled his shot just wide of the far post with Parry very quick to close down the space and the angle.

But Smith deservedly put the Bucks ahead on 25 minutes to cap a fine passing move on the edge of the area.

Mike Grogan shaped to shoot but found Hancock out wide on the right, and the former Witton Albion man delivered a superb cross to the back post which Smith dispatched on the slide.

Ryan Higgins' slip almost let Alty back into the game a minute later but fortunately Richman's cross to the back post was a yard too far forward for Steve Gillespie to reach.

Perry should have levelled though just three minutes later after he escaped his marked to meet Lawrie's excellent free-kick.

He was in a central position but could not keep his close range header under the bar, letting Telford off the hook.

And Telford were almost caught napping again five minutes before half time when they failed to switch on from a quick throw out by Altrincham goalkeeper Stuart Coburn.

Adam Griffin raced into the Bucks half and his pass forward was hammered into the box by Lawrie causing a bout of penalty box pinball before Richman shot over.

And the same player let Telford off again when he failed to reach a terrific Lawrie free-kick to the back post which Higgins had failed to cut out.

Parry had conceded the set piece with a late challenge on Gillespie, earning a booking in the process.

The Bucks were forced to make a change at the start of the second half with the injured Grogan (ankle) replaced by striker Tony Gray.

Farrell dropping into midfield to accommodate the change, but it was Altrincham who had the first chance of the second half with Richman again drilling just wide.

The visitors continued to press though and Gillespie twice went agonisingly close to a leveller with a header onto the roof of the net and a curling shot just wide.

But Gray had a header cleared off the line at the other end, following Parry's flick on, and the striker then thrashed the rebound inches wide.

Hall did tremendously well to save Gillespie's close range header from Havern's deflected delivery with 17 minutes remaining.

And Parry did superbly to clear a menacing Shaun Densmore cross with 10 minutes remaining following a quick free-kick by the visitors.

Reeves should have levelled with five minutes left but Hall did superbly to block his effort from a one-on-one position.

And Farrell punished their wastefulness by slotting home from substitute Sean Cooke's 89th minute free-kick to finally settle the nerves and the result.

Clancy injured his shoulder late on and Perry then netted a consolation goal for Altrincham six minutes into added time but the Bucks held on for the points.